The microstructure of hydrous zirconia (ZrO2) prepared by the hydrolysis of
zirconium propoxide followed by digestion at pH 1, 3 and 9 and the ZrO2 de
rived from this precursor have been studied. The undigested hydrous oxides
formed plate-like aggregates with low porosity. After digestion at pH 9, th
e hydrous oxides became highly porous with surface areas up to 550 m(2)/g.
Calcination at 500 degrees C for 12 h results in ZrO2 with surface areas of
more than 380 m(2)/g, ZrO2 formed after digestion in acidic medium had low
er surface areas of less than 100 m(2)/g and were mixed in tetragonal and m
onoclinic phases. The water/propoxide ratio during gel formation influences
the surface area of the resulting ZrO2. The thermal stability of the mater
ial is remarkable: ZrO2 resulting from long digestion retained up to 100 m(
2)/g after successive heating to 900 degrees C. The observed microstructura
l properties are attributed to the nature of the alkoxide precursor formed
under different water/alkoxide ratios and to the effects of digestion under
varying pH conditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.